Yes is an English progressive rock band that was active from 1968 to 1981 and then re-formed again in 2002. The band has seen some change in the line-up over the years, but right now it is Steve Howe on the guitar, Alan White on drums, Geoff Downes on keyboards, Billy Sherwood on bass, and Jon Davison on vocals. The band is famous for its unorthodox sound which is an amalgamation of pop, symphonic, and jazz subgenres with an emphasis on musicianship and complex arrangements. They recorded several albums some of which include Roundabout, owner of a Lonely Heart, and Long Distance Run Around.
Yes had to cancel all their 2020 touring plans given the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have confirmed they will be back on tour in the spring and summer of the following year. The Album Series 2023 Tour is a tour they have embarked on where they will be performing full albums that they have not been playing in previous tours. Every concert on the tour will be done with two studio albums in their entirety.
The tour is set to start on May 19, 2023, in Ledyard, Connecticut at the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino. They continue with performances in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Bethlehem Pennsylvania before moving to Europe in June. Their European leg of the tour is scheduled to take them through Belgium, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and other countries. From Europe, they proceed to North America for the shows in the US and Canada starting from the end of July to early September. The major market shows of this leg include the two nights at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and the Forest Hills Stadium in New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Montreal. Currently, the tour is expected to end on August 30, 2023, in Highland Park, Illinois at the Ravinia Festival.
During the announcements regarding the upcoming tour, the band suggested that listeners might be able to enjoy some albums by Yes for the first time in concert. Although full details on the albums that are expected at the shows have not been provided yet, the band says that the initial set list proposal includes Fragile, Drama, 90125, Big Generator, and more done in their entirety. There are also predictions of some “shockers”, and other tracks from Yes’ discography that have not been performed in concert for over thirty years.
Since being formed over 50 years ago, Yes has constantly prioritized live performance and experimenting in terms of rock stage showmanship and music. Even at the age of seventy, today’s Yes continues to perform three-hour-long exotic and energetic concerts with an emphasis on the incredible display of lighting and the musicians’ virtuosity. Loyalists would be pleased to know that all the basic facets of the Yes concert are still intact – Roger Dean-like stage backdrops and individual solos to better showcase each member’s musicianship and the band’s signature voices.
Tickets for the 2023 Album Series Tour are available for the United States and will be available shortly for the European part. Since the band is so well-known and they have so many prog-rock hits, most of the concerts should be sold out in advance, so people are advised to order the tickets in advance when they go on sale. There are also VIP packages for most concerts that include better seating, exclusive merchandise, and much more.
Yes is now ready to return to the stage after taking a break from touring and performing full albums to fans worldwide. The Album Series 2023 Tour will be a new concept of a tour that will allow the band to focus on the important parts of some of their albums, hitting the stage every night with songs that will make any fan happy, new, and old. The next chapter of legendary concerts from rock royalty is right around the corner when Yes returns to stages everywhere starting in May 2023.
